Marx and the alternative to capitalism /

Allen is a sociology lecturer at University College Dublin. His writings include works on Weber, Marx, and Irish and European politics. Allen is also closely associated with the Socialist Workers Party, a post-Trotskyist political organization active mostly among students and academics. In this book, he attempts to provide a lively introduction to Marx's key theories, with a brief outline of Marx's life and work. Although Allen intends to offer readers a refreshing new way into the thought of Marx--for example, taking on issues such as "gender and race" and featuring up-to-date statistics and cultural references--he nevertheless does not go much beyond well-traversed paths. Issues of political analysis and revolutionary strategy that continue to drive debates within post-Trotskyist socialist circles lie not far beneath the book's surface. This suggests that Allen's selection of issues and their treatment may not be especially appropriate for readers looking for a more open-minded introduction to Marx that is especially relevant to contemporary issues. But for beginners seeking the basics of Marxism, the book is an unobjectionable, if selective, start. Summing Up: Recommended. General and undergraduate collections. P. Amato Drexel University